As part of its ongoing commitment to cultivating a globally rich learning environment, Seminole State College of Florida has opened its doors to qualifying students from Turkey.

Seminole State and the Atlantic Institute’s Central Florida branch have signed a memorandum of agreement that opens the possibility for selected qualifying students from Turkey to pursue their undergraduate degrees at Seminole State.

The three-year memorandum, approved by the College’s District Board of Trustees on May 27, allows 10 Turkish students per semester to attend Seminole State for the in-state tuition fee as long as they maintain a GPA of at least 2.5 and make satisfactory progress toward their degree. The Atlantic Institute Central Florida, formerly the Nile Foundation, will sponsor the students, paying their tuition and certain living expenses.

“We are excited about this opportunity with the Atlantic Institute as we seek to further internationalize Seminole State,” says Kevin Konecny, director of the College’s Center for Global Engagement. “When American and Turkish students sit shoulder-to-shoulder as Seminole State students, they will develop a global perspective from each other that will enhance classroom learning.”

Huseyin Peker, executive director for the Atlantic Institute Central Florida, sees agreements like this as an opportunity to create unity through education and cultural understanding.

“I believe that this agreement will open doors to establish an unlimited harmony between Seminole State College’s good, quality education and Turkish students’ cultural practice of hard work, honesty and conscientious service,” Peker says.

Seminole State has had several recent cultural exchanges with Turkey. President E. Ann McGee visited the country last August, and a group of Seminole State administrators, including Konecny, toured the country in June.

The agreement underscores a renewed international effort through the Center for Global Engagement, which was created in 2012. The College signed its first agreement with an international college or university in October 2013 with Denmark’s Basic Health Care College of Fredericia-Vejle-Horsens, which established a five-year exchange of faculty and students.

Konecny says he hopes agreements like these will help increase diversity at Seminole State while providing an avenue through which Seminole State students may study abroad.

“We hope that this relationship will support student mobility in both directions, and that our American students soon have the opportunity to study in Turkey,” he says.

About the Atlantic Institute Central Florida

The Atlantic Institute Central Florida is an independent, non-profit organization whose goal is to facilitate dialogue and bridge cultures from multiple regions of the world. For more information on the institute, please visit www.theatlanticinstitute.org.

Seminole State College's Library, Assessment and Testing Center and Academic Success Center will offer extended hours in December to help students who may need more time to prepare for Fall Term final exams and projects.Read More »

Seminole State College of Florida is one of the top 10 online colleges in Florida, according to a new ranking.
OnlineColleges.com recently completed extensive research into 2,868 different accredited colleges and universities. Seminole State ranks No.Read More »